Compare · iLovePDF
A free iLovePDF alternative that never uploads your files
iLovePDF is a well-known PDF site with many tools. Utilwell is newer and smaller, with one difference that matters for client files, contracts and anything private: Utilwell's tools run in your browser, so your files are never uploaded. Here's an honest side-by-side.
At a glance
| Utilwell | iLovePDF | |
|---|---|---|
| Where your file is processed | On your device, in your browser. Never uploaded. | Uploaded to iLovePDF's servers for processing; iLovePDF says files are deleted within 2 hours. |
| Free limits | No daily limit. File size depends on your device's memory. | File-size caps per tool and no batch processing on the free plan. |
PDF tools Utilwell has
Plus image tools (compress, resize, convert), and tools for people who sell online, like fee calculators and a Shopify CSV checker.
What iLovePDF does that Utilwell doesn't
- PDF to Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and back
- OCR for scanned documents
- Editing, watermarks and page numbers
- E-signatures
- Desktop and mobile apps
If you need those, iLovePDF is a good choice. If you need to compress, merge, split or convert files you'd rather not upload, Utilwell does it on your own device, free.
How "never uploaded" works
When you open a Utilwell PDF tool, the code that does the work downloads to your browser. Your file is read and rewritten there, and the result is saved straight back to your device. You can check in your browser's developer tools: the Network tab shows no file being sent while a tool runs. Utilwell has no ads and needs no account.
iLovePDF details are from its own website as of October 2026 and may change. iLovePDF is a trademark of its owner; Utilwell isn't affiliated with it.